Employee at WCI of Waltham honored

Saturday

Aug 2, 2014 at 1:00 PM

On May 6, the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) recognized Amanda Brockman of WCI – Work, Community, Independence in Waltham as the 2014 Direct Support Professional of the Year for Massachusetts."We at WCI are proud of Amanda," said Nancy Silver Hargreaves, president and CEO. "The award shows the dedication Amanda has to support people with disabilities and reflects the quality of services provided by WCI."Brockman is the director of WCI’s Deaf Support Employment and Day Supports Program at 45 Rumford Ave. in Waltham. Having been at WCI for nine years, she has developed a program to provide individual and group employment opportunities to people who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf blind."This is a total deaf immersion program, one of the only programs of its kind in the state," Hargreaves said.The award was presented at the 2014 ANCOR Conference: Beyond the Envelope in Miami."Most Americans are not aware of the critical work DSPs (direct support professionals) do every day and the essential role they play in the social and economic life of communities across the country," said Dave Toeniskoetter, president of ANCOR. "We want to make sure DSPs like Amanda are recognized for the difficult but inspiring work they do every day."ANCOR’s Direct Support Professional Recognition Award is given to those who personify the values of ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign, which works to ensure a well-trained and sustainable direct support workforce. Nominees are judged on the work they’ve done to build social networks, substantive community participation and advocating for the people they serve.